Ideal Suretrace Plus 61-948

T

TwistLock

Member
Location
California
Occupation
Electrician
Want to know if anyone here has the Ideal 61-948 Suretrace ‘Plus’ and has any thoughts on it.
Looks like it came out this year (?) to compete with Klein by bracketing their popular ET450 with a lower & higher model in this range.
I use common sense more than I do a tracer but once in a while they can speed things up.
Also curious if you’ve found breaker identification muddied by GFCI / AFCI / & Dual’s. i.e. any performance difference vs standard? In wall tracing experience? Or comparisons to the Klein ET450 welcome.
*(couldn't find a test equip section, so hope it's ok to post here).
SureTrace Plus.jpg
 
I think I'll just go ahead and order one. They're pretty cheap. From support I've learned this is just an updated version of their previous models and is a "bit" better. Meaning mostly design, ergonomics, bells & whistles with 'some' improved performance.
Was 'told' that the previous versions are compatible with these newer designs - regarding most basic functions.
The reason the case is so big, and has an empty nesting space, is because they are coming out with the 61-949 mid next year that includes the induction/clamp meter, battery pack for clamp meter, and perhaps another accessory or two.
According to support they 'believe' that what is sold in the 61-948 (pictured above) is identical to what you would receive in the -949 kit that will be available next year (meaning same parts less the clamp meter).
fwiw - The lcd display, near the top of probe, is supposed to automatically change from portrait to landscape depending on orientation held.
Waiting on a higher support level email to answer some other questions and clarify what I've gleaned so far.
 
...argh, ok customer service got it wrong, there's no such thing as a 61-949, the model #er is going to be 61-950. Probably around 1K (their guess). All three main components in the 61-950 kit will be different from the 61-948 (pictured above). Reason is, besides other 'pro' features, the 950 will use 2 antennas whereas the 948 uses just one. 2 antennas improve breaker location accuracy. (btw- Ideals older 61-957 etc. also use 2 antennas).
Ideal 946 / 948 are intended to compete with the Klein ET450 as I mentioned. 946 / 948 / 950 all work on 3phase. ( didn't ask about any 277 issues ).
When I stated that accurate breaker identification was high on my list it was pointed out that Ideal's 61-535 / Klein's ET-310 (both 120v single phase breaker finders) and Ideal's new 946 / 948 all use very similar components for this task so that results will also be similar. That tempered my enthusiasm for now, lol. Guess I'll wait for the 950.
 
I think that your information may be behind, I’ve had an Ideal sure-trace 61-959 for about a year now, it has all four units in the kit, it works well,
 
Not sure why Ideal's model #ers went backwards, from 959 to 950, but the 959 has been out for a long while. The 948 (possibly 946 too) came out in 2024 with the 950 supposedly coming out in 2025.
For example, the odd numbered 955 / 957 / 959 are all priced online around the $1K range (above / below depending). The newer, more cost conscious, even numbered 946 / 948, with only one antenna, are priced at $215 & $305 respectively.
I was told that when the Klein ET450 came out Ideal decided to answer back. Rep said "exactly" when I suggested they were 'bracketing' the Klein ($240) by offering two models priced just above & below to 'smother' it.
The yet to be released (as of writing this) Ideal 950, I was 'told', will be their 'Professional' model (with 2 antennas, clamp, newer specs / features, etc.)
So the new line up doesn't mean better - as far as breaker identification accuracy goes - until the 950 arrives (but that remains to be proven).
 
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